PolyU Igniting Social Innovation Competition 2025

Information Sheet

 

Background and Objectives

PolyU Igniting Social Innovation Competition 2025, organized by APSS of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, aims to actively engage secondary school students in Hong Kong and to foster their interests in studying applied social sciences. By utilizing an interdisciplinary approach across social sciences fields and leveraging cutting-edge technology in artificial intelligence (AI), omnidirectional (360-degree) cameras, and HiVE facilities, the competition seeks to raise participants’ awareness of pressing social issues and their connection to the UN Sustainable Development Goals of responsible consumption and production and good health and well-being. Additionally, the competition provides an exceptional platform for participants to propose and advocate for creative and viable solutions to these issues.

 

1. Raise awareness of pressing social issues:

We aim to enhance participants' awareness of critical social issues faced by Hong Kong citizens, particularly focusing on building a greener Hong Kong and public health and well-being. To achieve this, training workshops will be provided by both professors and experts in the fields, equipping participants with knowledge related to these themes. This will help them develop a holistic and comprehensive understanding of these complex issues and gain deeper insights into the social fabric and realities of our community.

 

2. Connect social issues to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals:

The competition seeks to establish a clear connection between the identified social issues and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, with particular emphasis on responsible consumption and production, as well as good health and well-being. Participants will learn how local social issues are interconnected with the UN’s targets for improving lives globally.

 

3. Promote creative and viable solutions:

Participants will have the opportunity to present the problems they have identified with the aid of AI, 360-degree cameras, and HiVE technology, while proposing and advocating for innovative solutions. Specifically, they will be required to write a screenplay that highlights their chosen issue with AI assistance. They will then use a 360-degree camera to produce a video of their story, employing HiVE technology to present these issues in an immersive and interactive manner. This approach encourages creativity and engagement, allowing participants to effectively illustrate the problems they have identified and the solutions they propose.

 

4. Inspire the next generation of change-makers and leaders:

By showcasing the transformative potential of social policy through AI technology and the immersive experiences offered by VR and HiVE technologies, this competition aspires to inspire the next generation of change-makers and leaders.

 

Competition Details

Eligibility:

Local S.4 & S.5/ Year 11 & 12/ Grade 10 & 11

Each team can have four to six student participants

Each school can nominate more than one team

 

Phase 1: Proposal Submission and Training Sessions

 

Each team (each school can have more than one team) will submit a proposal in English or Chinese (not more than 500 words) focusing on:

1. Introduction to the social issue observed (greener Hong Kong or public health and well-being)

2. Proposed policy solution.

3. How video or 360 cameras may be used to better illustrate the issue and enhance public awareness or understanding.

 

The deadline to submit team registrations as well as a preliminary proposal by 15 March 2025. Successful registration will receive an email confirmation.

 

Training Sessions

All participating teams will receive 10 hours of training (22 March 2025 & 5 April 2025), which includes:

1. 4 hours of training provided by NGOs/frontline agencies

2. 6 hours of training provided by APSS, the use of HiVE and AI technology,

    understanding social policy, social innovation, and the welfare system.

 

Mid Proposal Presentation PPT Submission

After attending the training sessions, each team can resubmit its proposal by 25 April 2025.

 

Phase 2: Proposal Presentation

All teams are required to give a presentation that addresses the following key components:

 

1. Identifying Pressing Social Issues:

Teams will identify a pressing social issue related to waste reduction or the health and well-being of Hong Kong citizens (or other related issues).

 

2. Utilizing AI, 360 camera, and HiVE Technology:

Teams should demonstrate how AI, 360 cameras, and HiVE technology can be harnessed to create immersive and interactive experiences that effectively present the identified problems or issues. This innovative approach offers a unique opportunity to enhance the impact and engagement of the proposed solutions.

 

3. Potential Outcome:

The presentation should briefly evaluate the current related social policies and propose how the existing public and social policies can be optimized.

 

All teams will be invited to present their proposals on the PolyU campus on 3 May 2025 (TBC). The presentation should be concise and focused, with a recommended length of no more than 10 minutes. A judging panel will further select 10 teams to proceed to the next stage on a merit basis, considering the above three criteria.

 

10 teams will be selected for Phase 3, and the result will be announced on 10 May 2025 (TBC). APSS will provide one set of VR headset and one 360 camera to each of the 10 finalist teams in Phase 3. The equipment must be returned to APSS after the competition. Also, one student mentor (a student majoring in social sciences) will be assigned to each team.

 

Phase 3: Final presentation

10 finalist teams will do the final presentation on the PolyU campus in July 2025 (TBC). A PolyU student mentor will be assigned to each team.

 

Participants will come to the PolyU campus to utilize 360-degree cameras and HiVE technology to enhance their project presentations. Each presentation should be concise, lasting no longer than 10 minutes, followed by a 5-minute Q&A session..

 

Participants are required to submit their presentation materials—such as AI prompts, PowerPoint slides, and 360-degree videos—at least 7 days prior to the scheduled presentation. This ensures smooth technical integration and seamless delivery during the presentations. 

 

Awards

First prize	HKD 25,000 and certificates
Second prize	HKD 15,000 and certificates
Third prize	HKD 6,000 and certificates
Honorable mention (2 Teams)	HKD 4,000 and certificates
Outstanding presenter (x5)	Certificates

 

Anonymous Evaluation Study

All participants will be invited to take part in a three-round anonymous evaluation study, which includes a survey and a focus group. All participants will complete a three-round survey: before the training workshops, after the first presentation, and following the final presentation. Those who successfully advance to the finals will also be invited to participate in a focus group interview.

 

Summary of timeline

Major Event	Proposed Date
Application and First abstract deadline	15/03/2025
Training Workshop 1	22/03/2025
Training Workshop 2	05/04/2025
Submit Mid Proposal Presentation PPT	25/04/2025
Mid Proposal Presentation	03/05/2025
Released results of the finalists	10/05/2025
Final presentation and finale	July 2025

 

Enquiry

Mr. Ken Chau

Project Associate

Email: kin-pan.chau@polyu.edu.hk

 

 

 

香港理工大學點亮社會創新比賽2025

參加者須知

 

 

 

背景與目標：

由香港理工大學應用社會科學系（APSS）主辦的「香港理工大學點亮社會創新比賽2025」，旨在吸引香港中學生參與及了解社會議題，並培養他們對應用社會科學的興趣。比賽採用跨學科的方法，結合社會科學領域的知識，再利用人工智能（AI）、全景（360度）攝像技術和HiVE設施等尖端科學，旨在提高參加者對迫切社會問題的認識，並與聯合國可持續發展目標中的負責任消費與生產以及良好健康與福祉相連結。此外，該比賽為參加者提供了一個卓越的平台，讓他們提出並倡導創新且可行的解決方案。

 

提高對迫切社會問題的認識：

我們希望讓參賽者加深對本地和全球迫切社會議題的認識，而是次比賽主題包括打造綠色香港及共同創建健康生活與福祉。為幫助參加者全面理解這些複雜問題及提供與這些主題相關的知識，比賽期間將有教授和領域專家提供培訓工作坊，讓他們能更深入了解我們社區的社會結構和現況。

 

將社會問題與聯合國可持續發展目標聯繫起來：

本比賽旨在將社會議題與聯合國可持續發展目標聯繫起來，是次題目特別強調負責任的消費與生產以及良好的健康與福祉。參加者將學習如何將本地社會問題與聯合國改善全球生活的目標相互關聯。

 

鼓勵具創新性和可行性的解決方案：

參加者將有機會利用AI、360度攝錄技術和HiVE技術匯報他們所選定的社會議題，並提出創新的解決方案。具體而言，他們可在AI的協助下撰寫一個劇本，突出他們選擇的社會議題。然後，他們將使用360度攝錄技術製作一個短片，利用HiVE技術以沉浸式和互動的方式介紹這些社會議題及展示其創新的解決方法。這種方法能夠有效地激發參加者的想像力和增加參投入感。

 

激勵下一代變革者和領導者：

通過結合AI技術和VR及HiVE技術提供的沉浸式體驗，以展示社會政策的變革潛力，本次比賽旨在啟發下一代領導者的成長。

 

比賽詳情：

 

參賽資格

 

1. 本地中四及中五/11年級及12年級/10年級及11年級學生
2. 每隊可有四至六名學生參加
3. 每所學校可提名多於一隊

 

第一階段：提交初步提案及參與培訓課程

 

提交初步提案

 

每隊（每所學校可有多於一隊）需提交一份不超過500字的英文或中文提案，內容包括：

 

1. 所觀察到的社會問題介紹（打造綠色香港或健康與福祉）
2. 提出的政策解決方案
3. 如何使用視頻或360度攝錄技術更好地展示問題並提高大眾意識或理解

 

隊伍報名及初步提案提交的截止日期為2025年3月15日。成功註冊將收到電郵確認。

 

培訓課程 (主要以粵語進行)

 

所有參賽隊伍將獲得10小時的培訓（2025年3月22日及2025年4月5日），包括：

 

1. 由非政府組織/前線機構提供的4小時培訓
2. 由APSS提供的6小時培訓，內容包括HiVE和AI技術的使用、社會政策理解、社會創新及福利系統。

 

提交中段匯報簡報

 

參加培訓課程後，每隊須於2025年4月25日或之前提交中段匯報簡報。

 

 

第二階段：提案匯報

 

所有隊伍都需進行簡而精的匯報，內容需涵蓋以下關鍵組成部分：

 

1. 識別迫切的社會問題：

   隊伍須選定題目為減少浪費或公眾健康與福祉
   
   

2. 利用AI、360度攝錄技術和HiVE技術：

   隊伍需展示如何利用AI、360度攝錄技術和HiVE技術創造沉浸式和互動式體驗，有效呈現所識別的問題或議題。這種創新方法提供了一個獨特的機會來增強所提解決方案的影響力和參與度。
   
   

3. 預期效果：
   展示應簡要評估當前相關社會政策，並提出如何優化現有的公共和社會政策。

 

所有隊伍將請於2025年5月3日（暫定）在理工大學校園展示其提案。匯報應簡潔集中，時長不得超過10分鐘。評審小組將根據上述三個標準進一步選出10隊進入下一階段。

 

最後將有10隊被選入第三階段，結果將於2025年5月10日（暫定）公佈。APSS將為第三階段的每支決賽隊伍提供一套VR眼罩和一台360度相機。比賽結束後，設備需歸還APSS。此外，每隊將分配一名社會科學專業的學生導師。

 

第三階段：最終匯報

 

10支決賽隊伍將於2025年7月（暫定）在理工大學校園進行最終匯報。每隊將會被分配一名香港理工大學學生導師予以協助。

 

參加者將前往香港理工大學校園，利用360度攝錄技術和HiVE技術匯報其項目。每次匯報應簡潔，時長不超過10分鐘，其後有5分鐘的問答環節。

 

參加者需在預定匯報日期前至少7天提交其匯報材料，如所使用的AI指令、PowerPoint和360度短片，以確保技術整合順利並在期間順利進行。

 

獎項

一等獎	25,000港元及證書
二等獎	15,000港元及證書
三等獎	6,000港元及證書
優異獎（2隊）	4,000港元及證書
傑出演說獎（5名）	證書

 

評估研究：

所有參與者將被邀請參加一項三輪匿名評估研究，其中包括一項調查和一個焦點小組。所有參與者都而需完成三輪問卷調查（分別在培訓工作坊前、第一次匯報當天以及比賽結束後），但只有成功晉級決賽的參與者才會被邀請參加焦點小組。研究報告將發送給學校以供審閱。

 

時間表摘要：

活動	暫定日期
申請及初步摘要截止日期	2025年3月15日
培訓工作坊1	2025年3月22日
培訓工作坊2	2025年4月5日
提交中段匯報簡報	2025年4月25日
提案匯報	2025年5月3日
公佈決賽入圍結果	2025年5月10日
最終匯報	2025年7月

 

 

查詢：

 

周建斌先生

副項目員

電郵：kpanchau@polyu.edu.hk